Yankees’ woes continue, blow late lead to O’s

BALTIMORE— The New York Yankees came into Camden Yards on Friday night looking to get back on track after a sub-par start to the season, but fell to the Baltimore Orioles, 6-5.

Left fielder Brett Gardner started the game off strong for the Yankees by leading off with a single. Matt Holliday drove Gardner home on a 1-2 count from Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez. Baltimore knotted things up in the bottom of the first on a single to right by center fielder, Adam Jones. Jones plated Seth Smith, who had doubled in the previous at-bat.

Holliday pushed the Yankees in front 3-1 in the top of the third with his two-run homerun to left field. Catcher Gary Sanchez added to the Bronx Bombers lead by providing a two-run shot of his own in the fifth inning, making it 5-1.

This gave starter Luis Severino some insurance, but like every Yankees’ starter this season except CC Sabathia, he allowed a home run to bring the O’s within a run. Third baseman Manny Machado took the 96-mph fastball from Severino into the bullpen for his first homer of the year.

Severino finished the night allowing four earned runs on six hits in five innings. He also struck out six. On the other side of the bump, Jimenez only lasted 4.1 innings and surrendered five earned runs on seven hits. The righty struck out five while walking one.

The Yankees’ sloppy play plagued them all night. Although there were only two errors recorded in the record book, several mental lapses led to the eventual collapse. Gary Sanchez attempted to steal in the top of the seventh inning and was thrown out with ease by Orioles’ catcher, Wellington Castillo. This ended any chance the Yankees had of tacking on an extra run to pad the lead.

In the bottom half of the seventh, Yankees third basemen Chase Headley made a horrible throw to first base, which should have been scooped by Greg Bird. Bird made a half-hearted effort at catching the ball and Jonathan Schoop ended up on second base. Consequently, Seth Smith took a Tyler Clippard pitch deep to right field that put the O’s on top 6-5.

Greg Bird and Aaron Judge went 0-7 combined tonight. They continue to struggle for the Yanks offensively and have done a complete 180 since raking in spring training. The Yankees need these two to be better if they want to win games this year.